Scottish care home provider, Renaissance Care, is introducing a series of energy saving measures, including solar panel installations and sensor lighting, to combat soaring prices.

The changes include switching over to LED lighting which is 75% more efficient than incandescent lighting and the adopting of motion sensor lighting systems which means lights will turn off when rooms are no longer in use.

Renaissance Care has already made significant investment in energy efficient boilers which are now installed in 85% of homes and an upgraded insulation programme has also been carried out throughout all services.

Additionally, the group is planning to install solar panels on to most of the care homes to generate energy as well as an upgrade to several heating systems to include radiant panels.

Robert Kilgour, executive chairman of Renaissance Care, said: “It’s pertinent to the future proofing of our facilities that we take steps to curb the soaring cost of energy and while we cannot stave off the effects completely, we can take steps to improve our energy efficiency in each of the homes and take simple steps to save where we can.

“The measures we are introducing will also reduce our carbon emissions and help us take action against climate change.”

The current and proposed changes are predicted to save the homes in the Renaissance Care group significant energy costs and cut carbon emissions.

Kilgour continued: “In addition to the steps that we have already taken, and are planning to take, we are also engaging two renewables consultants to survey our homes and make recommendations on how we can further strengthen our energy saving efforts.”

Renaissance Care currently operates 16 homes located across Scotland and provides care provision for 760 residents and employs around 1,150 staff.